I have seen this three times now, and Charlize Theron deserved a nomination for Best Actress. Not only is she drop dead gorgeous, but she actually exudes such a nasty character we still feel sorry for. Witty script, well paced, and in such a medicore 2011 Best Actress lineup- Theron would have made it have extra punch.

My list would have been

BEST ACTRESS 2011Viola Davis, The HelpRooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon TattooMeryl Streep, The Iron LadyTilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About KevinCharlize Theron, Young Adult

Her perf in Monster really wowed me but this performance made me absolutey in awe of her, and is part of the reason I think she’s one of the best and most criminally underrated actresses working today. It was such a complex role that she nailed effortlessly. Was really rooting for her to win at the Globes that year, actually, in the hopes that it would bump her to an Oscar nom.

I would love to see her take on more dramatic roles and prickly women like this, instead of all the action movies she’s been taking on lately — though if she delivers more iconic characters like Furiosa, then I guess I can’t complain.

I just don’t understand how can Theron’s good, but hardly outstanding performance in “Mad Max: Fury Road” get such attention, when her iconic Mavis Geary performance in a so much better film, didn’t. Lamest thing ever. Whatever, if she’ll somehow get a third nomination for “Mad Max: Fury Road”, I’ll pretend it’s for “Young Adult”. Otherwise, she’s an excellent actress. Loved her in most films.

Wow totally forgot Dunst in Melancholia was also that year — what an incredibly strong year.

That said…can we now move past this idea that Michelle Williams was somehow brilliant as Marilyn Monroe? Not for one second did I believe she was Marilyn nor did I think she captured any aspect of her essence. I didn’t understand the hype then, understand it even less now.

Charlize Theron gave the best performance that year in Young Adult, and she almost got nominated. The problem was that the Academy didn’t see the film, and they went for the actresses that campaigned the most, what a shame.